GameNight: Clemson vs Hofstra

The final game in the opening round of the
inaugural Charleston Classic will match up a Clemson team looking to make a
second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and a Hofstra program looking
to get back to the twenty-win mark that they’d become accustomed to in
recent seasons. Both teams head into the season looking to replace some key
departures, with James Mays and Cliff Hammonds both out of eligibility for
Clemson and Antoine Agudio no longer in Hempstead. Another question mark for
both teams is the point guard position. Is Demontez Stitt ready to take the
reigns full-time for the Tigers? Can Greg Johnson increase his scoring to go
along with his steady assist numbers?

On display will be a pair of shooting guards
that will be up for conference honors in their respective leagues in K.C.
Rivers and Charles Jenkins, but the difference will most likely come from
the complimentary players. Hofstra needs to get more from the likes of Zygis
Sestokas and Greg Washington, while Oliver Purnell has a proven option in
the form of sharpshooter Terrence Oglesby. Clemson wins a close one, but
look for Dane Johnson to play well inside for the Pride against Trevor
Booker.

Winner: Clemson
Competition:Pick'em -
Close - 10+
- Blow Out

Preview & Prediction: By
Blake Hofstad

The Pride return 4 of 5
starters, and 8 of their 9 top scorers. Unfortunately, the player they lose
is Antoine Agudio, the school’s all-time leading scorer. Agudio scored 23 a
game last year. The good news is Hofstra has a slew of seniors who can step
into a leadership role while providing steady production, and each offers
something different. Dane Johnson is extremely effective in the low post, he
will get his chances at a triple double, with blocks and rebounds being his
specialty. Darren Townes is the workhorse of the team. These guys are just 2
of 6 seniors Hofstra will rely on. Charles Jenkins is the star of the team,
and has CAA Player of the Year in his sights. This game will be interesting
for Clemson, who lost their emotional leader, as well as tremendous player
James Mays. KC Rivers, Terrence Booker, Demontez Stitt and Terrence Oglesby
will now be leaned on to carry this team. Rivers and Booker will clean the
glass. Stitt is an excellent slasher while Oglesby is one of the ACC’s best
deep threats. Clemson needs to prove they can stay near the top of the ACC.
Hofstra can send a statement with a win here. Usually a frontrunner in the
CAA, the Pride fell off the pace last year and failed to make the
postseason.

The key for Clemson will be
to play to their potential, not down to their opponents. The backcourt
battle between Rivers, Oglesby and Stitt and Jenkins, Nathaniel Lester and
Tony Dennison should be won by the Tigers. This is a talented trio, all with
experience in big games. Hofstra will prove to be a test in the frontcourt.
Clemson has one star returning there in Booker. The Pride will put forth
Johnson, Townes, Greg Washington, Mike Davis-Sabb and Miklos Szabo. Raymond
Sykes and David Potter will need to step up for Clemson on the glass. This
Hofstra team is a huge improvement from last years, but I don’t see them
stealing one from Clemson. I like the Tigers, 73-59.

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